Lloyds Banking Group – Member of the Council for Digital Inclusion

Lloyds Banking Group is now playing a vital role in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Council for Digital Inclusion.

Chaired by Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, the Council brings togetherrepresentatives from government, the voluntary and private sectors to work together to create theenvironment for more people to become digitally engaged and make the most of opportunitiesoffered by the internet.

In particular, the Council will focus on increasing levels of basic digital skills and reducing thenumber of people in England who do not regularly or never access the internet at all.Nick Williams, MD, Consumer Digital for Lloyds Banking Group is joining the quarterly sessionsand is acting as an adviser to help deliver the Council’s aims and work.

Still in its infancy, the Council has laid out some early action plans and ensuring it plays a pivotalrole in making sure organisations in social housing, charity, banking, telecoms, retail andgovernment work together to commission and deliver initiatives to increase digital inclusion.

Nick said, “I’m delighted that Lloyds Banking Group is playing an important role in this Council. It’sstaggering that an estimated 12.6 million adults in the UK still don’t have basic digital skills, whichmeans people are missing out on improved job opportunities, better health and social and financialinclusion.

“Our research in both our Consumer Digital and Business Digital Indexes show that clearly there ismore we all can do to ensure individuals and businesses are aware of the opportunities availableto them just by being online. For example we found that the average person could save £744 ayear by shopping around for online deals.”

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said: “It’s essential everyone in the UKhas digital skills to create a society that works for all and keep our businesses competitive in afast-changing world.“We’re taking action to help, which is why we set up the Council for Digital Inclusion to bringtogether leaders from business, charities and government to help more people realise the benefitsof being online.

“We have also recently committed to make sure all adults in England who need it can receive freetraining in basic digital skills.”As well as being part of the Council, Lloyds Banking Group has also been asked by theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport to lead a ‘task and finish’ group to specifically increasethe digital skills of small businesses and charities in England.

The ‘task and finish’ group was set up following an audit by the Digital Inclusion Delivery board thatidentified a lack of digital skills provisions available.

The group is made up of key cross sector leaders who will pool resources, create partnershipsacross sectors and devise initiatives to help reduce the gap in basic digital skills for smallbusinesses and charities.

Nick adds, “Our 2016 Lloyds Bank UK Business Digital Index shows the link between digitalmaturity and organisational success, and we know that the most digital businesses are more likelyto see increased turnover – so this cross sector group, focused on helping increase basic digitalskills, is crucial to increasing the awareness of the benefits and the motivation to increase digitalskills.”